27 evacuated after Croton-on-Hudson kitchen fire

CROTON-ON-HUDSON – Twelve families were temporarily displaced Saturday after a kitchen fire broke out in a unit of an apartment complex.

Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the blaze, which was reported at 10:30 a.m. at 11 Scenic Drive, preventing it from spreading to other units, Montrose Fire Chief Peter Kolesar said.

"My guys did a great job," Kolesar said. "They knocked it down relatively quickly."

Extensive water and smoke damage prompted officials to shut electrical service to the entire complex temporarily. Families living in one section of the complex will be allowed back in Sunday. Another group will be able to return next week while two families who live in the area where the blaze began likely will be displaced indefinitely, Kolesar said.

The cause of the kitchen fire appeared accidental, the chief said.

Carolyn Sherwin, a spokesman for the Red Cross, said the agency was assisting a total of 27 people from 12 units at 11 Scenic Drive.